Lions On Probation

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 15

Lions On Probation

The evidence against the Lions in their first game against Southland was rather strong. They were guilty of all manner of Rugby heresies, but nontheless the verdict of the match should not be taken as a life sentence. Rather the tourists should be regarded as being on probation, with the strong likelihood that they may even be completely exonerated before this tour is finished. In 1950 It was Otago and Southland, in 1956 Waikato, 1959 again Otago, and last year Wellington, which demonstrated early to visiting teams that to beat provincial and international teams in New Zealand they would have to learn how to cope with the driving and rucking game. This team, like the 1956 Springboks, received the lesson in the first game. The Lions should have absorbed much of this lesson and it would be most unwise to even consider writing them off at this stage of the tour.

The Lions had been told what to expect in New Zealand and, in a way, were prepared. But theoretical preparation is no substitute for practical experience. Now the Lions have had that practical lesson. For all the mistakes made and the weaknesses shown against Southland, there were odd specks of gold among the dross. When the forwards did begin their short passing they looked quite formidable. Once the forwards begin to play tighter and more cohesively, their speed and weight will make them match the best opposing packs.

So little was seen of the backs that it is difficult to form much of a judgment of them. At training they impressed with their great speed. Occasional flashes in the Southland game suggested that given forward parity and good possession they will be a considerable force. Perhaps the worst thing that happened to the Lions on the eve of the New Zealand tour was the thrashing they gave Australia in the second test. Consciously or not, the team must have been over-confident. That confidence will have been dented now, but it was

quite pertinent that last Sunday evening the coach of the team, Mr J. D. Robins, did not want his team to see the film of the second test on television; of course the team did see the film and happily savoured its moment of glory. Mr Robins’s probable reasoning that it would be better to forget the triumphs of the Australian tour would have a good foundation. Rugby in Australia is very different from that in New Zealand, and tactics and form shown there obviously are not always to succeed in New Zealand.